In Erinnerung

Am 25. Oktober 1958 hatte ein auf einem Fiat 600 basierender Abarth im Autodromo Nazionale Monza mit einer von Pininfarina schönst geglätteten sowie einem auf 75 PS bei 7500/min leistungsgesteigerten 750er-Motor einen sensationellen Rekord aufgestellt, er schaffte auf 200 Meilen eine Durchschnittsgeschwindigkeit von 206,811 km/h (siehe auch: Abarth und die Rekorde). Kurz darauf, auf dem Pariser Salon, präsentierte Abarth den überarbeiteten 750 GT Bialbero mit einer von Zagato neu gestalteten Karosserie, die ruhiger und einfacher war als beim berühmteren «Double Bubble». Das Fahrzeug, in Erinnerung an die Rekordfahrt «Record Monza» genannt, kam auf 61 PS bei 7000/min, das Gewicht lag bei bescheidenen 568 Kilo, die Höchstgeschwindigkeit bei über 170 km/h.

Mit dem hier gezeigten Fahrzeug aus der Sammlung von Engelbert Möll wurde Hans Aeberli 1961 Schweizer Meister in der GT-Klasse. Ja, die Geschichte der Bialbero ist ziemlich kompliziert, wir haben es mit einer Übersicht versucht, hier. Zum 1000er-Record-Monza haben auch etwas.

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Manchmal finden wir ja ein gutes Stück. Und zeigen es dann auch gern:

Chassis-Nummer: 100 441205 (1957)
Motoren-Nummer: 100.000 431663 (nicht original, siehe unten)

Auktion: RM Sotheby’s, Miami 2025, Schätzpreis 80’000 bis 100’000 Dollar. Wenn Automobile einen Namen tragen dürfen, damit auch eine gewisse Bekanntheit erreichen, dann darf man davon ausgehen, dass sie so ein bisschen wie Familienmitglieder behandelt wurden. Dieses gute Stück hier «hört» auf den Namen Clyde, war von 1961 bis 2017 bei der gleichen Familie. Vater Leonard für mit dem Abarth, der wohl zur ersten Serie gehört, ein paar Rennen in den USA, Sohn Peter lernte auf dem «Record Monza» schon als Bub das Autofahren. 1969 wurde der Zwerg weggestellt, 1986 begann eine Restauration, die über 100’000 Dollar kostete; dabei erhielt der Wagen auch einen neuen Motor, aufgebaut auf einem 600er-Block. Das hat nun sicher einen gewissen Einfluss auf seinen Schätzpreis.

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Chassis-Nummer: 100 555575

Motoren-Nummer: 100.000 434297

verkauft über Girardo & Co., angeboten mit folgendem Text: «Abarth were well known for their highly-tuned engines, and lightweight, nimble cars, with this, the 750 Record Monza being no exception. This car features beautiful curvaceous bodywork by the famed Milanese coachbuilders, Zagato. On the 14th April 1959, this Fiat-Abarth was sold new and registered in Palermo, Italy, where it remained until 1964 at which point it moved to Trapani, also on the Italian island of Sicily. The car was assigned a new registration ‘TP 20739’, with the original registration book remaining with the car to this day! This incredibly rare and special piece of documentation also has many inspection stamps from the 1960’s and 1970’s. This car was bought by Biagio Tumbarello in March 1971, as confirmed in the original registration book, where it remained for over ten years, being bought by another Italian in 1983. Based in Bergamo, Italy, this gentleman retained the car for four years, before it was sold to his brother in law. The previous owner purchased the car in the early 1990’s, overseeing a restoration, before selling the car to the current owner. Under its current ownership, the car has been beautifully repainted in the elegant colour of Blu Francia. Further works included new valves, head gasket, an overhaul of the brake system and new tyres fitted to the ultra-rare Amadori wheels, along with a retrim of the very desirable lightweight seats.» Verlangt wurden 115’000 Pfund.

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Chassis-Nummer: 74183

Wurde Ende 2022 für 192’000 Dollar über Bring A Trailer verkauft. Verfügt nicht mehr über den originalen Motor.

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Chassis-Nummer: 550486
Motoren-Nummer: 600319

Auktion: RM Sotheby’s, Monterey 2026, Schätzpreis 175’000 bis 250’000 Dollar, mit diesen Angaben: «According to research conducted by former owner Mahlon Craft, chassis number 550486 was reportedly dispatched from Zagato in January 1959, finished in dark red paint over a light blue interior, and registered with Italian export tags reading “TO 712.” After preparation by Abarth, the car was exported to the Roosevelt Automobile Company in the US. Owned by Franklin D. Roosevelt Jr., son of the legendary American president, this company was an official Fiat importer that also functioned as a springboard for FDR Jr.’s racing team. At the Sebring 12 Hours in March 1959, this Record Monza was one of four such cars entered by Team Roosevelt. Wearing race #62, the Bialbero was driven by Remo Cattini and Lanzo Cussino to 2nd in class. The 750 was then campaigned at no fewer than nine SCCA events over the season’s remainder, finishing as high as 3rd overall at the President’s Cup at Marlboro in late April, and 3rd in class at Cumberland in May. In December 1959 the Fiat-Abarth was entered as #81 at the Bahamas Speed Week, and Paul Richards pushed the car to a class win at the Friday Governor’s Trophy, and 2nd in class at the Nassau Memorial Trophy two days later. By late 1960 the Fiat-Abarth was sold to John William Denton, and he ran the car at Savannah in November 1960, and at the Chimney Rock Hillclimb in 1961. Denton owned the Bialbero for 10 years before selling it to Steve Doran, who kept the car for another three years before it was acquired by Doug Hoffman. In 1977 the Record Monza briefly passed to Herbert Bailey before being sold to a local sports car dealership, by which time the car was refinished in white.
In 1984 the Fiat-Abarth was acquired by Mahlon Craft, and he fastidiously researched the car’s history, making a number of conclusions based on physical evidence related to the car’s racing configurations, registration, and cosmetic colors. In 1994 a restoration commenced, for which Mr. Craft managed to source the car’s numbers-matching engine (which had been exchanged into one of the other Roosevelt team cars in period). A number of rare authentic parts were sourced, including a Bialbero racing exhaust, Abarth billet-steel half-shafts, oversize Alfin drum brakes, and a long-distance fuel tank. Tivvy’s Autocraft corrected the Zagato coachwork as needed before a fresh finish in rosso was applied by Alfas Unlimited. Automotive Restorations of Stratford, Connecticut, upholstered the original Zagato seat frames with beige vinyl, and trimmed the interior with new Wilton wool carpeting. The finishing touch was applied with the addition of a Nardi wood-rimmed steering wheel. Following completion of the restoration by 1996, the 750 Record Monza participated in a number of vintage events and concours d’elegance, winning its class at the 1999 Greenwich Concours d’Elegance and at four different vintage festivals held at Lime Rock, Connecticut, between 2000 and 2013. In June 2014, after 30 years of dedicated ownership, Mr. Craft sold the Bialbero to enthusiast Sergio De La Vega, and the car was acquired in April 2019 by the consignor, a collector residing in Southern California. The Fiat-Abarth then received a small bout of freshening by Fast Cars Ltd. in Redondo Beach, California, including attention to the gearbox, throttle, front brakes, and electrical system. Three years later a new clutch assembly was installed by the Thermal Club.»

Und ausserdem: Alle unsere Abarth-Geschichten.